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COVID-19 Vaccine

A Message From Bergen Medical Associates

As we aim to deliver the highest quality of care through the recent surge of COVID-19 infections, we offer the following general advice:

If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you should notify any close contacts from within the past 2 days. Acetaminophen and/or Ibuprofen can be used for fever or pain, and you should also drink plenty of fluids. Regardless of vaccination status, testing positive for COVID-19 requires isolation for 10 days from the onset of symptoms, or if you are asymptomatic, 10 days from the date of the positive test result.

Please contact the office (preferably by MyChart) for a telehealth visit with one of our providers. Based on the results of this visit, an in-person evaluation may be recommended at our Acute Care Center located in Westwood. If you are experiencing respiratory difficulty, you should go to the Emergency Room.

If you have been exposed, please follow the CDC guidelines based on vaccination status with respect to quarantine and testing. If you have been exposed and become symptomatic, you should begin isolation and follow the guidance listed above.

At the moment, testing is in high demand and there is limited availability. We will work to provide you with a test when able, but also encourage you to explore local testing options.

More information and guidance can be obtained at the CDC website.

What Is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by a virus. Most cases of COVID-19 are mild to moderate, like the common cold. But it can be more severe in older adults and people with chronic health conditions.

The virus is most likely to be spread from person to person by droplets when coughing and from contact with surfaces where those droplets have landed. Since this virus is new, health authorities continue to carefully watch how this virus spreads. More information on how this virus spreads can be found on the State of NJ Department of Health’s website

CDC Vaccine Info

The latest information on the vaccine can be found on the CDC Website.

New COVID Vaccine Program for 75+

Visit the AARP program information online or call 856-249-7007 (from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. ET).

Preventing Getting Sick and Important Ways to Slow the Spread

Wear a Mask to Prevent Getting and Spreading COVID-19

  • Wear a mask over your nose and mouth to help prevent getting and spreading COVID-19.
  • Wear a mask in public settings when around people who don’t live in your household, especially when indoors and when it may be difficult for you to stay six feet apart from people who don’t live with you.
  • Wear a mask correctly for maximum protection.
  • Wear your mask under your scarf, ski mask, or balaclava in cold weather
  • Keep a spare mask to replace one that becomes wet from moisture in your breath, snow, or rain.
  • Store wet reusable masks  in a plastic bag until they can be washed.

SOCIAL DISTANCING: Limiting close face-to-face contact with others is the best way to reduce the spread of COVID-19

  • Social distancing, also called “physical distancing,” means keeping a safe space between yourself and other people who are not from your household.
  • To practice social or physical distancing, stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other people who are not from your household in both indoor and outdoor spaces.
  • Social distancing should be practiced in combination with other everyday preventive actions to reduce the spread of COVID-19, including wearing masks, avoiding touching your face with unwashed hands, and frequently washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Handwashing is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from getting sick

To prevent the spread of germs during the COVID-19 pandemic, you should also wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol to clean hands BEFORE and AFTER:

  • Touching your eyes, nose, or mouth
  • Touching your mask
  • Entering and leaving a public place
  • Touching an item or surface that may be frequently touched by other people, such as door handles, tables, gas pumps, shopping carts, or electronic cashier registers/screens

Washing your hands is easy, and it’s one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs. Clean hands can stop germs from spreading from one person to another and throughout an entire community—from your home and workplace to childcare facilities and hospitals.

©2022 Bergen Medical Associates